Onwusanya elected as Delta speaker

Tuesday, 18 March 2014 16:09 Written by Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba

MR. Peter Onwusanya (Oshimili South) was on Tuesday elected as the new Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly in Asaba following the expected resignation of Chief Victor Ochei.

Faced with a fait accompli as about 27 out of the 29 member House had reportedly signed the impeachment notice Ochei, had no choice but to throw in the towel to prevent what would have been a disgraceful end.

Citing his personal resolve to pave way for a new leadership in the House, Ochei in a letter dated March 18, 2014 and addressed to Deputy Speaker Basil Ganagana which he read out on the floor hoped that the new leadership will take the state and the House to a higher level.

The former Speaker wrote: “I wish to thank all those, numerous and many who made my tour of duty a pleasant affair further. To you my esteemed colleagues, I remained grateful for your love and camaraderie we shared while it lasted.”

Ochei (Aniocha North) was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 29 member House on June 7, 2011 while Ganagana (Patani), a fourth term member who was first elected in 1999 was selected  as the Deputy Speaker fifth session.

In the terse letter, he prayed God to avail his successor and indeed the House of all human sagacity in the task of accentuating the core ideals of the legislature as a partner in governance for a better society.

In place of Ochei who was absent at the plenary session which lasted about 45 minutes, Ganagana who took charge before the emergence of Onwusanya promptly declared the exalted vacant while the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Johnson Erijo (Isoko South II) proceeded to nominate Onwusanya as Speaker and was seconded by former Speaker Sam Obi (Ika North East).

The new Speaker was immediately sworn-in by the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Lyna Ocholor.